Customers can petition for rate increase review

May 24, 2013

MARTINSBURG - The West Virginia Public Service Commission can review Martinsburg's sewer rate changes and can increase or decrease the rates, but the PSC will review the new sewer rates only if a petition is filed within 30 days of the adoption of the ordinance changing the rates or charges by:

1. Any customer aggrieved by the changed rates or charges, who presents to the PSC a petition signed by not less than 25 percent of the customers served by Martinsburg - 1,500 of 6,000 customers - or

2. Any customer who is served by Martinsburg and who resides outside the corporate limits and who is affected by the change in rates or charges and who presents to the PSC a petition alleging discrimination between customers within and without the municipal boundaries. The petition must be accompanied by evidence of discrimination, or

3. Any customer or group of customers who are affected by the change in rates, who reside within the municipal boundaries and who present a petition to the PSC alleging discrimination between the customer or group of customers and other customers of the municipal utility. The petition must be accompanied by evidence of discrimination.

All petitions should be addressed to the Executive Secretary, Public Service Commission of West Virginia, 201 Brooks St., PO Box 812, Charleston, WV 25323.

A complete copy of the proposed minimum charge rates is available to all customers, prospective customers or their agents at Martinsburg City Hall, 232 N. Queen St., and a copy of the proposed minimum rates is available for public inspection at the Office of the Secretary of the Public Service Commission at 201 Brooks St., Charleston.